Thursday, 27 January 2011

Reform, it's definition and application

I am getting a bit tired of the speculation and shock of people over the BBC's decision to not use the word 'reform' in the referendum to decide if we are to use AV for elections.

So let's discuss the word's definition and see if we can see why an organisation that has to stay unbias might want to not use it.

thefreedictionary.com - "1. To improve by alteration,
correction of error, or removal of defects; put into a better form or condition."

Answers.com - "To improve by alteration,
correction of error, or removal of defects; put into a better form "

Yourdictionary.com - "to make better by removing faults and defects"

Merriam-webster.com - "to put or change into an improved form or condition b : to amend or improve
by change of form or removal of faults or abuses"

wordreference.com- "verb. 1 make changes in (something, especially an institution or practice) in
order to improve it. "

or from the oxford dictionary - "to improve a system, an organization, a law, etc. by making changes to it"

So, this is the word that so many people seem shocked that the BBC may think it suggests improvement??

I dare say that if in the referendum we vote in favour of it, THEN they can start calling it reform, because we collectively have decided that AV IS an improvement.

...which brings me onto the next point.

Reform can be used by the government for the same reason. They are the representative body of the UK. They are in power by our votes. Therefore it is widely accepted that they are using the people's authority to enact these changes and that agree with them. Therefore they are reforms.

I hope we can put both of these...well, stupid is the word that keeps popping into my head( but desperate, innane, illogical etc will all do too), arguments to bed and get on debating the worth of AV.